"Mama, I was so ashamed"

[ismnotwasm]

I spoke with my daughter for the first time about the disaster in New Orleans. She is a soldier, who served in Afghanistan. After her tour she reenlisted. She always told me that while she was in Afghanistan, they brought some relief to the poverty stricken people there, and were able to help in many ways. That was part of why she was able to bear leaving her son with my husband and I for that year. Because she felt she was doing some good. Because she felt proud of her efforts, because she felt she was making a difference.
Now she knows the war in Iraq is not "winnable" and hates *, but that's not what what we were talking about. My daughter knows our army's capabilities. She was deployed with Nationial Guard from all over the country. She said, "They have the training, they have the equipment, we could have BEEN there! This should never have happened, this is my country, not a third world country that America gives aid to and I don't understand what happened. Mama, I was so ashamed.
So it leaves me in tears. My daughter has never been quite sure what she wanted to do after she leaves the army. Now she is thinking about using her training and capabilities to become a relief worker. She, like many of us still hasn't been able wrap her mind on the horror of New Orleans and other places hit by Katrina.
I just needed to share that.

[Fleshdancer]

1. Hugs to your daughter

I for one would feel honored if she decided to become a relief worker. People like her make the world better. Angels on Earth. Hugs to you and your family. :hug:

[dave502d]

2. What a nice daughter,thank you and thank her.n/t

[terip64]

3. It has to be killing all of these dedicated people, like your daughter!

They know that we could have handled this!

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. You raised a heck of a good woman. *hugs*

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Save New Orleans, then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[Booster]

5. You have a wonderful daughter and I, too, wish she was here to

do what she was trained to do right here on American soil. Tell your daughter we hate * too, and thank her for me for her service.

[txindy]

6. Your daughter is a wise, courageous woman.

She knows what she's seen and she doesn't buy the spin. Becoming a relief worker sounds like a job she would find very fulfilling and personally satisfying. I'll bet her son knows what a fine mother he has, too.

:hug:

[Quakerfriend]

7. Please, thank her for her refreshing honesty

and for being the type of American who still cares to do the right and courageous thing to help others in need.

[Usrename]

8. God bless her. - need 1 more

just need one more to get this up

[bertha katzenengel]

9. hey, ism

:hug: for you and your daughter

:loveya: to everyone who serves us in the military, whatever branch, or the Guard, etc. I never could.

[madmax]

10. You raised her right.

:hug: Bless her heart.

[tlsmith1963]

11. That Made Me Cry

It *is* shameful that this country hasn't been able to help these people. And if anyone knows how badly this has been handled, it's your daughter. Bush & the neocons need to go. They have deeply shamed this nation.

Tammy

[DesEtoiles]

12. How did you raise such a great kid?

[demgurl]

13. You daughter's story has touched me.

Thank you for sharing. I hope she finds her true calling and is able to help many more people.

Peace!

demgurl

[BamaGirl]

14. Hugs to her

My husband is one of the Guardsman in MS. We were both active duty Army and Guard. I understand what she's saying. To know what we're capable of, and see it not done day after day, is really awful. :hug: for you both.

[Olney Blue]

15. Our country needs more people like you and your daughter.

Thank you for the post!

[Talismom]

16. I have 7 year old twins and when I imagine one or both of them growing

up with such a sense of morals and human decency, well, I would be so proud if they were like your daughter. You must be some mom! She should consider running for local political office and moving up to a state office. We need a little righteousness in govt. these days! Congrats!

[OneGrassRoot]

17. Our troops deserve better leadership.........n/t